Improvement in ventilating apparatus for coal-mines



V r. MURPHY.

VENTILATING APPARATUS FOR COAL-MINES. .menzsv.

Patented May 2, 1876 s E s 3 E N, n W

moan us.

mPTEflS, PNOTlJ-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHlNGT ON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT FRANCIS MURPHY, or STREATOR, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN VENTILATING APPARATUS FOR COAL-MINES.

f pepification forming part of Letters Patent No. 176,757, dated May 2,1876; application filed April 10, 1875. l

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANoIs MURPHY, ofStreator, in the county of La Salle and State of Illinois, have inventeda new and Improved Ventilating Apparatus for Coal-Mines, 8210., of whichthe following is a specification:

1n the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of myimproved ventilating apparatus for coal-mines, 850.; Fig; 2 an end viewof the same, and Fig. 3 shows. detail side and .end views of a blade ofmy spiral fan.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. V

The invention will first be fullydescribed in connection with drawing,and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing, A represents the base-supporting timbers, which arearranged around the shaft-opening, with the vertical posts or standardsB mortised therein. The standards B are stiffened and firmly retained inposition by braces a and tie-rods I), attached to swivel-bails dnear thetop, and to sockets,

washers, and nuts of the base-pieces. The posts B carry at their upperparts, in suitable bearings, the fanshaft O, which is revolved bypulley-and-belt connection from the engine. A- top cross-piece, B, issecurely fastened to the ,top of posts B, and bears, by intermediatewedges, on the top of the air-chamber D, which is thereby rigidlyretained in position, its base part being bound to the connectingtubecolumn E by the metallic valve-frame E of the same. The air-chamber D isprovided x with circular openings 6 at opposite sides, the

fan-shaft passing centrally through the same, and carrying outside andnear each opening a fan, O. The fans 0 are equal in every respect, withthe exception that one has right and the other left or contrary-spiraledblades. The fans are keyed firmly to the shaft and balance each other,so as to neutralize the lateral pressure of -one fan, and utilize thepower of the fans to a greater extent. The blades or wings of the fansare of wrought iron or steel, and firmly dovetailed to the hub, beingmade thicker near the hub, and' with' a gradual taper, as shown in Fig.3. Each blade is curved in the manner shown in Fig. 2, to produce thecutting of the air at a certain angle, and thereby the exhaustion of theshaft by being revolved in one direction, and the forcing in of air bybeing turned in the opposite direction.

The working capacity of the balanced fans is nearly doubledwithout'enlarging the apparatus, as compared with a single fan, while the safetyof the apparatus is increased by the neutralization of the lateralpressure.

The air-chamber or casing is carried over the fan-sh aft by having slotsor recesses at the lower side, which are closed 'by dovetailed pieceswhen the air-chamber is seated on the tube-column.

The downward-descending shaft-tubes E are supported at suitabledistances by being provided with inverted brackets f, of the width ofthe tubes, that are firmly attached to the outer sides of the same,resting on surrounding and bolt-connected cross-pieces g, which aresupported by brackets g of the shaft-linings. The differenttube-sections are thus separately supported as extended downward intothe shaft without producing any .pressure or weight on the lowersections of the column. The setting up, replacing, and detaching of thetube-sections, is thus accomplished in a quick and convenient manner.

When the shaft is sunk to a lower vein or level, having one or moreworking-veins above, it is necessary to regulate and control theventilation between them. This is done by means of the valve F, which isshownin Fig.2, above ground, but which should. be apa lever, it, that isconnected by a rope and pulley, i, with a sector-shaped pulley, l, onthe I valve-shaft lever h, holding the valve F in any position by beingfastened by a stop-pin, h,

to a perforated circular guide-piece, W. The sector-shaped pulley l ofthe valve is acted tube with a mercurial gage, G, that is placed on anysuitable standard or point free from the vibrations of the machinery.The gage indicates, on a graduated'scale of the glass tube, the degreeof exhaustion produced by the fans. v

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The combination of tube sections having invertedside brackets and surrounding supporting-pieces, with brackets ofshaft-lining for hearing the tube-sections separately of each other, asset forth.

2. The combination of the valve F, lever h,

rope and pulley t', sector-pulley 1, spring Z,

and lever-locking plate 1 with the air-tube E of a mine-ventilatingapparatus, as and for the purpose set forth.

.3. The combination of' the air-receiving chamber D, provided withopenings 6 at opposite sides thereof, and the balanced fans 0, arrangedon the same shaft and outside of the air-receiving chamber, allconstructed and operating substantially as described.

4. The combination, substantially as flescribed, of the air-receivingchamber D, the balanced fans 0, and the shaft-tubes E, provided withsuitable valves F.

, FRANCIS MURPHY.

Witnesses:

WM. S. CHERRY, R. D. FLETCHER.

